only on nbc bay area. san jose could be without a police chief for some time. we found out that none of the people on the short list to be the new chief made the cut. the current chief leaves his post next week and the assistant chief is already working a new job in piedmont. we are uncovering new information on the potential power vacuum coming in the bay area's biggest city. >> reporter: the city manager was hoping to have the new chief in place by the end of this month. now she has to go back to her list of candidates and tell them they are now still in the running. now, here's what we know so far about two dozen community leaders, met with three finalists yesterday to give their feedback to the city manager. sources tell me all three off the finalists got a thumbs-down from those at the neegt. one person who was there told me it seemed like a rally of sortss. now, as a result of that meeting, the city manager sent a memo to the city council and the

police department saying she was going to restart her search for a new chief and there is no timetable for when that new it chief will be sworn in. >> but the challenge that we have here, as with any high-level executive appointment is to get the right mesh that's good not just for san jose and our community and the department but also for the candidate who might be here for a long time. >> it's unfortunate the finalists are no longer finalists. >> it's unfortunate the names have come out because that's part of the problem of convincing people to go through a process. if you can't guarantee confidentiality. >> reporter: the mayor was talking about a news outlet that leaked the names of the three candidates, three finalists. so a city with growing crime and dwindling morale and its police force now faces a future without a leader. the city manager says she'll appoint an interim chief soon. i texted the police chief, current price chief, chris moore to see if he may be able to stay on for another couple of months

while the search continues. he told me it is not likely but he's not spokenen to the city manager. i saw him this afternoon so maybe they had the talk here at city hall. we'll find out. live in san jose, damian trujil trujillo. another story you'll see only on nbc bay area, a grieving south bay family wants to know why they're not getting the answers about their son's death. jackson madsen was killed on december 23rd by a hit-and-run driver at campbell and santa monica expressway. the chp is on the case, but the family says they've been given no information on the investigation. the chp tells us they're working on getting nor leads. investigators are looking for a white gmc truck with damage to the front end. if you have any information, you're asked to contact the chp. in it oakland, the man accused of setting his girlfriend on fire now faces formal charges of arson and attempted murder. 22-year-old dexter oliver face

tszed a judge pleaded in the got to setting her girlfriend on fire in san francisco last week. the 25-year-old star lamar remains in critical condition with burns to her face and upper body. her family tells the chronicle oliver burned her during a fight because she wanted him to help her carry clothes to the laundromat. prosecutors say oliver was on prosecuti probation. investigators are now trying to determine what caused a adly big rig crash that shut down a busy highway in vallejo at the height of the commute this morning. the big rig burst into flames. you see the video here after plunging from it an on-ramp that connects highway 39 to westbound 37. it happened around 6:45 a.m. today. a few people who saw the accident pulled the driver from the flames but ultimately his injuries proved fatal. he's identified as 43-year-old william ballard of roseville. the highway patrol says the big rig and pickup truck were involved in a collision sending

the truck over the guardrail and sparking a grass fire next to highway 29. crews spent much of the day cleaning up and watching for hot spots. >> the truck that crashed into the ground below was an ace hardware truck carrying unknown hazmat, whether it be pane or chemicals. solano hazmat is on scene and handling the spill and cleanup. >> it was quite a scene. highway 37 was shut down between 80 and highway 121 for about three hours this morning. the pickup truck, the driver of the pickup truck was not seriously injured. no word yet on the cause for the crash, but alcohol and drugs are not believed to befactor. california governor jerry brown unveiled his latest budget proposal today. if approved he says it will leave california with a budget surplus for the first time since the recession began. it's batesed on a rebounding economy and new wave of new tax revenue. but with years of deficits in the rear-view window, brown's

$97 billion budget plan also calls for the building of an emergency fund. with most of the new money earmarked for schools, many other areas including health care will either face cuts or be asked to keep spending at the same amount as last year. republicans are demanding that any final budget deal includes language that ensures that the uc and csu systems do not raise tuition for at least seven years. so sometimes more money means more problems. the budget includes a $2 billion increase in funding for k-12 education. but not all districts will get the same amount of money. in fact, the governor pointed to two bay area school systems to justify his decision to give more money to certain schools and less to others. nbc's arturo santiago joins us from piedmont. i can imagine this is already causing controversy. >> reporter: a bit of it, raj. the governor specifically mentioned richmond and piedmont, two distinctly different school districts but when it comes to what the governor is proposing for the k-12 funding, you'll get

similar reactions from each one. now, at perrys elementary school in richmond, 100% of its students are on the free or reduced lunch program. now, this is the kind of school that the governor is trying to focus on. he just doesn't want to increase funding across the board. he wants to disproportionately fund the schools, like perrys that have disproportionate challenges. that would mean less funding for schools with fewer low-income or non-english speaking students. the educators i spoke to in both richmond and piedmont welcomed the proposed chaf ed changes in funding formula. >> we're one of the lowest performing districts in the state so we're always working hard. we're rebuilding our school. the community's bought into that. but we need more. >> it isn't about winners and losers. what it is, is about fully funding education. we've had four or five years of basically grotesquely und underfunded schools so every kid wins sarl s as a result of this >> growing up in compton or richmond is not like it is to

grow up in los gatos or beverly hills or piedmont. so we recognize that, and we put in an equitable formula without bureaucracy, without all the categorical maneuvers and complexity. we send the money based on a formula, and that is controversial but it is fair. it's right, and it's just. >> reporter: now, there is a certain amount of guarded optimism in that administrators know this is just a proposed budget. they are waiting for more when the may revised comes out. in total, the governor wants to give k-12 districts more than $2 billion in extra funding for the next school year. we're live in piedmont, i'm arturo sasantiago. new details tonight on a school shooting this morning in southern california. a science teacher is being called a hero. shooting happened at tack union high school in kern county about 40 miles south of bakersfield. the sheriff's department says a

16-year-old student shot a fellow student during first period. a teacher quickly intervened and managed the student to stop firing and put the gun down. the suspect was arrested and the victim is expected to survive. no word yet on a motive. that shooting comes as a vice president joe biden met with the nra and other gun rights groups to discuss gun violence. the vice president will send his proposal to president obama on tuesday. it's expected to include a stronger background check system and a new ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. the nra released a statement after today's meeting saying, quote, we were disappointed with how little this meeting had to do with keeping our children safe and how much it had to do with an agenda to attack the second amendment. the congressional black caucus is calling on president obama so nominate oakland congresswoman barbara lee as the nation's next labor secretary. current secretary hilda solis announced yesterday she was leaving her position. the 66-year-old lee has been in congress since 1998. don't be surprised if the

bay bridge appears to be flashing tonight. testing is set to begin on the bay lights art project. more than 25,000 l.e.d. bulbs have been attached on the san francisco side of the bridge. crews will run the first expense test tonight. the goal is to make it look as though the bridge is moving and breathing with the environment around it. the $8 million project was created to celebrate the bridge's 75th anniversary. the switch will officially be turned on in march and run for two years. i knew after i brewed my first batch of home brew this is something i could do for a living. >> people love the brew. what he creates is something so unique that people are willing to line up for blocks around buildings to get their hands on it. coming up, the story of piney the elder, tonight's bay area press. got tissues? the flu virus is sending hundreds to the hospital on the east coast, and doctors say it's just a matter of time before the flu virus hits the bay area hard. coming up, i'll take a look at

the increase we're already seeing and what you can do to protect yourself. and good afternoon, i'm jeff ranieri in the nbc bay area weather center. already tracking 40s right now, we'll have more on the freeze warning and how cold it will get, coming up in just a few minutes.

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♪ and it's beautiful in tonight's health matters, consider yourself warned. >> the flu has already killed more than 100 people across the united states, and doctors say it's just a matter of time before the bay area is hit just as hard as the east coast. let's bring in nbc's marianne favro, i know the main hospital in boston is at capacity with flu patients. what's happening with our hospitals? >> we're seeing increased activity as well, kaiser hospitals in northern california are seeing an increase with people in the e.r. with flu-like symptoms. kaiser doctors are also receiving more calls from patients reporting suspected flu. that's a trend we're seeing

throughout the bay area. a noticeable increase in people reporting flu symptoms. so far this season in california, four people have died from the flu, all of them under the age of 65. doctors here are bracing for widespread cases like hospitals in boston are seeing right now. >> i expect it to come here, too. kids are in school. it's a really good place to spread influenza. i i'm going to expect within the next few weeks to see the cases increase. >> still, we are much better off than the rest of the country. take a look at this map from the centers for disease control. the 42 states you see in brown have widespread flu activity. here in california we just have regional activity. but, again, doctors say it's just a matter of time before that changes, which is why they say it's critical that you get your flu shot now to receive some protection. and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. because the flu virus can live

on surfaces such as doorknobs or phones for up to eight hours. marianne favro, nbc bay area news. >> very good reminders thank you. sleeping pills stay in your system a lot longer than previously thought. new data from driving simulations and blood tests show the drugs, if still active in the morning, can affect your driving, say, if you're going to school or work. the food and drug administration issued a new warntiing, women a particularly affected because they metabolize the drug slower than men. officials say doctors need to talk to patients about lower dosages making sure less ever the drug is present in the morning. a product so hot there are lines literally around the block hours before the business is even open. we're not talking about a tablet or a smartphone, not even a black friday sale. >> for a two-week period in february, people stand if line for beer. yes, it's good beer. must be. as you can imagine it's not just any beer. garvin thomas is here to tell us why it qualifies as a bay area

proud. >> the success story comes out of santa rosa, it's run by a husband and wife team. they're very proud of the beers they make, and they should be. they sell out at stores and clean up at awards. their recipe for how to brew success is tonight's bay area proud. if you want to know the exact recipe for capturing lightning in a bottle, don't ask the folks at santa rosa's russian river brewing company. first of all, beer is what they bottle. >> i don't think there's any one thing you can really put your finger on. >> secondly, natalie and vinnie chalorzo sometimes wonder themselves why their product, as good as they know it is, has so captured the fascination of beer convinoisseurs worldwide. >> it surprises me how much beer we sell. >> what doesn't surprise vinnie is he's happy to be doing it. that he knew after his first, admittedly terrible tasting, attempt at beer making.

>> this is something i could do for a living. >> on the right side is the max ton, which is -- >> and that vinnie has done, even before he and natalie took over the russian river brewing company a decade ago. vinnie is credited in the industry with making the first double ipa, a beer with a lot of hops and a lot of alcohol. which brings us to mrieny the elder, the double ipa vinnie created for russian river brewing. it wasn't a breakout hit when first introduced, but it's cult grew over time. >> what was a keg a day at the pub became, you know, a keg and a quarter, then a third. >> before vinnie and natalie new, piney the elder was selling out and cleaning up. the home brewers association of america has named piney the elder the best beer in america four years in a row. still, the exact mix of high

quality and limited supply was not something that the couple tried to do. it just happened. which makes it even more amazing that it happened again. this is the line out the door of the pub for last year's release of plimey the younger. only available for two weeks starting the first friday in february, there's a line out the door every single day. >> it's kind of mind-blowing to me that someone will wait four hours in line for -- to have a 10-ounce beer? >> which is in no way a complaint. these two couldn't be happier that people love what they make because they sure love making it. >> i'm very proud that every day, whatever you get from our brewery, we know we have in our heart of hearts put our best foot forward. >> people wonder about the name plimey the older was a roman scholar who came up with the name for hops in the beer. go to my facebook page, a special treat for those of you who like that beer.

>> oh, really? >> something to watch,s not something to drink. >> i notice some empty beer bottles at your desk. >> taste and tested. >> i have tested it, yes. >> and approved. it is it chilly outside. it's going to get to the free freezifreez freezing level, right? >> even below, that's right. i would recommend a warm and toasty beverage. as the radar scans, we've seen a lot of that activity push off to the south, nothing in the way of heavy rainfall here at the current moment as we're going to continue to see these clearing skies. but look at this picture, one of many coming in across the bay area, some low snow this from a national weather service here in the bay area, storm spotter at 2400 feet near bonny dune, anywhere from half inch to an inch across the santa cruz mountains and even snow as low as 2000 feet and slightly below this morning. so how does it fare outside right now with those temperatures? it is downright cold, 47 in santa rosa, widespread 40s pretty much for the entire region, 49 in san jose, 47 in

sunnyvale, even for san francisco that is considered cold for this time of year, 49 degrees right now. let's take you outside to the live hd sky camera network. it is clear in san francisco, not a cloud in sight. we do have some wind, but that wind's going to be relaxing here as we head throughout the next 18 hours and that will allow us to 0 cool off even more. also, cool skies across the silicon valley, one lone cloud up in the top right hand of your screen. let's get a look here. the winter chill will be staying with us through tonight, freeze warning in effect, most critical for the east, north and south bay. you want to take your pets in, cover up those sensitive plants. it will be a prolonged period, possibly three to four days of temperatures that could be at 32 degrees and/or below here for parts of the bay area. that frigid, polar air won't go anywhere, jet stream will continue to drag down this cold air as we head throughout the next, again, three to four days. so that means for tonight going to be getting even colder, 26 in petaluma, livermore 27, san jose 34 and san francisco, that's

right, 37. some other spots will be getting chilly, los gatos at 32, redwood city 33, and san rafael at 35. so patchy areas of ice are possible on some of those roadways. otherwise, for the afternoon as we head throughout friday, smooth sailing. a lot of sunshine and most temperatures in the upper 40s to also low and mid-50s. not a bad day coming our way. on your three it-day forecast, tweer looking rain-free throughout friday, also saturday, patchy frost to start the morning. then by sunday, here's where it could get a little bit interesting. we're not going all the way yet but a chance here of a slight shower on sunday morning. if temperatures stay cold enough, we could be playing that game again of, how low will the snow go? yes, i like that game. it's kind of fun here. then if you head throughout monday, tuesday and wednesday of next week, we'll get some gradual warming. sunday could be another how low will the snow go day. >> 1200 feet! >> we'll have to see. hopefully not! >> thanks, jeff. we'll be right back. ♪

secondhand smoke affects everyone's health. it's not just irritating. it can cause heart disease and even death. speak up about secondhand smoke. your health and the health of your family depend on it.

a president and a shipwreck were big winners at the academy award nominations today. >> actor seth macfarlane and emma stone announced the nominees, "lincoln" the clear winner with 12 nominations while "the life of pi" came away with 11. >> rounding out the list for best pictures, beasts of the southern wild, zero dark thirty, amore, silver linings play book, django unchained, argo. >> search oscar on our web site. before the oscars you can catch the golden globes right here on nbc bay area this sunday night. you can experience the whole show in a whole new way, download the zbox app and use it to interact with other fans while you watch. all about the movies. we'll be back in a moment.

a lucky break in the weather helped free a pod of killer whales trapped in canada's frozen north. this is youtube video showing the whales stuck near cue beck. for nearly two days they took turn breathing through a small hole in the ice. finally overnight wind opened up a channel to the sea. residents of a small village are paying someone to track the whales to the open ocean. close call. >> a lot of people following this story around the world. incredible video. thanks for joining us this evening. hope to see you at 6:00 for more local news. >> good night.

on the broadcast tonight, the flu epidemic. with new numbers and the fear growing, now the late rush to get vaccinated, and in some places they're running out of flu shots. also tonight, what to do if it hits. a big wake-up call tonight about ambien and a bunch of other brands, especially their use by women. the news of another school shooting. the very moment they were meeting at the white house about gun violence in america. all the president's men and the women in washington who are saying "that's the problem." and the whale watch that has captivated the world and the mystery that remains. "nightly news" begins now. from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with brian williams. good evening. with the flu at epidemic levels, already in some american cities and now with the media coverage of it, it's all having a predictable effe.